Handle connection for suction cleaners



July 20, 1954 e. A. BRACE HANDLE CONNECTION FOR SUCTION CLEANERS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 7, 1949 m mr M m m x 3 N 8 IA J5 July 20, 1954BRACE 2,684,271

HANDLE CONNECTION FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed July 7, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet2 I NIH mill W,

' INVENTOR. 600/91 4, Brace ATTOHNE Y.

Patented July 20, 1954 HANDLE CONNECTION FOR SUCTION CLEANERS George A.Brace, Highland Park, Ill., assignor to The Hoover Company, NorthCanton, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application July 7, 1949, Serial No. 103,511

17 Claims.

This invention relates to suction cleaners and similar appliances havingpivoted handles and more particularly to a novel control for such ahandle.

In a suction cleaner, as in various other tools and appliances, it isessential to provide a control mechanism for the operating handle whichpermits free pivotal movement through certain ranges, which resistsmovement past certain points, which positively locks the handle againstpivoting in at least one position and yet which can be unlocked easilyfrom the handle grip. However, controls previously provided to meetthese requirements are objectional as unnecessarily complex, costly tomanufacture and maintain and as failing to satisfy all requirementssatisfactorily.

The present invention provides a handle and control mechanism which isexceedingly simple both as respects its construction and operation andwhich makes full provision for all operating needs in an unusuallyfacile and direct manner.

,Thus, the handle automatically and positively locks the handle in apreselected position merely upon movement to that position. Release fromits locked condition is effected simply by moving it slightly beyond itslocking position and then back towards its normal operating position. Acounterbalance spring may be provided to support substantially theentire weight of the handle when it is in an operating position whileseparate means support the slight unbalanced weight in a convenientposition of rest when the handle is not being used. This latter meansalso acts, when the handle is locked, to hold it against unlockingunintentionally. Another and separate function of this same means is topermit the handle to be moved into another operating position below theinclined rest position when so desired by the operator without howeverofiering any resistance to return to the normal operating range when sodesired. All of the foregoing is accomplished by the use of a singlemoving part in contradistinction to the complex control mechanismsheretofore proposed.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel handlecontrol construction for a suction cleaner or the like.

' Another object is the provision of a simple control whichautomatically and positively locks the handle in a predeterminedposition and which is released by moving the handle forwardly of itsnormal operating range.

A still further object is the provision of a positive handle locking.and unlocking control involving a single moving part.

A further object is the provision of a common means operable to hold thehandle in an inclined position of rest at one time and to preventunintentional release of the handle from its locked position at another.

These and other objects will become apparent from a consideration of thespecification and drawings attached hereto and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the invention as applied to a suctioncleaner;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view partially in section of the handlecontrol and showing the position of parts when the handle is in itslocked position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the contour of the stationaryraceway and detent for the pivoted latch;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modified embodiment ofthe invention;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the control taken on line 55 ofFigure 4; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the latch raceway of the modifiedembodiment.

Referring to the drawings, it will be noted that a suction cleaner ID ofany conventional construction is generally indicated in Figure 1. Therear of the motor hood is broken away to show one of a pair of handlepivot brackets II which are secured in any suitable manner to thetopside of the main body I2 of the cleaner. A cleaner propelling handlel3 having a grip I4 is pivotally mounted in bracket I I. The usualfilter I5 has its lower end suitably secured to the main casting whileits upper end is connected by a tension spring to the underside of thecleaner handle.

Reference will next be had to Figure 2 showing the details of the handlepivot and control construction. The lower end of handle I3 includes ahandle socket It having a generally cylindrical periphery and spacedapart parallel sides. Socket I6 is journaled between brackets I I by athrough bolt II. Mounted within the handle socket is a strong spiralcounterbalance spring I8 one end of which overlies a pin I9a carried byone of the brackets II and extending into the interior of socket I6through an arcuate slot I 9b in a side wall of the socket. The oppositeend of spring I8 bears against an inwardly extending tab I9 struck fromthe handle socket to urge the handle upwardly towards its verticalposition as indicated in Figure l. Counterbalance spring I8 issufficiently strong substantially to counterbalance the handle weightand its attached appurtenances such as the service cord and filter bag.

A cross pin 20 extends between the sides of the handle socket at a pointbelow handle it. The cross pin pivotally carries one end of latch 2!.The other end of the latch extends through a slot 22 in the forwardperiphery of the handle socket. The hooked end 23 of the latch membernormally rides along the bottom of a grove or raceway Z formed in theupper side of a bracket member 25 rigidly secured to the top of thecleaner body i2. As will be readily appreciated, the raceway may beformed as a part of bracket i, in a portion of the cleaner motornormally positioned forwardly of the handle socket, or in any otherportion of the cleaner rigid with the main body. Latch ii is biasedclockwise by a light spring 26 carried by pin 26. However, the spring isnot essential since gravity will normally sufiice to maintain the hookend 23 in raceway 24 or in a position to fall into the raceway if itbecomes displaced for any reason, as when the handle is being used in ahorizontal position. It should also be noted at this point that thelower end of slot 22 in the front wall of the handle socket ispreferably narrower than the upper end of the slot for the purpose ofguiding the latch into the guideway 24 if it should become displacedwhile the handle is being used in its lowermost horizontal position. Theupper end of slot 22, however, is wide enough to permit free lateralmovement of the latch when the handle is in its vertical position for areason that will become apparent below.

Referring now to Figure 3, it will be seen that raceway 24 extendsparallel to the plane of the handle movement and in the path of hookedend 23 of the latch memben Raceway 2:3 comprises several parts the twomajor ones of which comprise a locking guideway 21 and a return guideway28 parallel thereto and spaced slightly to one side of guide-way 2'5. Atthe forward end of the latching guideway is a latching detent 29.Forwardly of this, and communicating with the forward end of returnguideway 28 is an arcuate, upwardly cammed guideway 32! the forward endof which enters the side of return guideway 28 at a point slightly aboveits bottom. The rear end of guideway 28 also is provided with an arcuatereturn guideway 3! which enters the side of the latching groove 21 at apoint above its bottom. A low wall 32 separates guideways 27 and 28 attheir adjacent sides and serves to prevent the accidental return of thelatch into groove 2? as it is i being returned thereto along groove 28.

Returning now to Figure 2, the means for preventing unintentionalunlocking of the handle and of holding it in inclined position will bedescribed.

Secured to the cleaner casing between brackets 5! below handle socket i5is a leaf spring 35. Its free, humped end 36 projects into a slot 3-? onthe underside of the handle socket. As shown in Figure 2-, the forwardend of the spring abuts the lower end of slot 3? so as to resist forwardpivotal movement of the handle from it vertical latched position. A tab38 struck inwardly at the upper end of slot (it provides a cammedshoulder which abuts the opposite side of hump 36 in spring 35 when thehandle is lowered to an inclined, rest position at the lower end of thenormal handle operating range of movement. If it is desired to lower thehandle below this position, as when cleaning below low furniture, it ismerely necessary to apply slight additional force to the handle grip toover-ride end 35 of the spring. Upon return of the handle above itsinclined rest position, end 36 is again positioned within slot 31 aswill be readily apparent.

Spring 35 may also be utilized to provide a stop against excessiveforward pivoting of the handle from its vertical storage position whenunlocking the handle control. For this purpose the fixed end of thespring may be upturned at 39 to form a stop closely adjacent theunderside of the socket. A tab Mi struck from the forward periphery ofthe handle socket will abut stop 39 to prevent forward movement of thehandle beyond that necessary to effectuate unlatching of latch member 2I.

Operation Let us assume that the handle is in its vertical storageposition as indicated in Figures 1 and 2. The hooked end 23 of latch 2!will then be latched behind detent 29 in member 25. Counterbalancespring i8 will urge the handle upwardly in a clockwise direction to itsvertical position, while spring 35 will bear against the forward edge ofslot 31 "and resistingly urge the handle toward its vertical position ina counterclockwise direction. Under these circumstances the handle ispositively locked in its vertical position and cannot be lowered.Accordingly, the cleaner may be readily picked up by its handle grip andtransported from place to place without the likelihood that the cleanerwill pivot downwardly to dislodge dirt from the filter into the cleaneror onto the floor or to injure the user.

However, if the user desires to unlock the handle it is merely necessaryto pivot the handle forwardly through a small angle as indicated by thedotted lines in Figure 2. This will cause the forward end of latch 23 toride forwardly and laterally as guided by arcuate, cammed groove 3|]until it falls into the forward end or" return guideway 23. Excessiveforward movement of the handle is prevented by tabs 39 and ifl and isresisted by spring 35. After end 23 of latch 21 has fallen into groove23, the handle may be moved backwardly freely and without effort intoits normal operating range. As it does so, the latch follows alongguideway 28 and is shifted back into raceway ill by reason of thecontour of cammed surface 35. Since the floor of this cam is above thefloor of groove 21 the latch cannot return to groove 28 while thecleaner is being used in normal operation. Further assurance againstthis is provided by the action of spring 26 which maintains the latch onthe floor of the groove.

After a period of use, the user may wish to release her grip on thehandle. As she does so, the handle will fall downward slightly untilshoulder 38 on the under side of the handle socket abuts end 35 ofspring 35 where it will remain in a convenient position for the operatorwhen she again desires to use the cleaner. If it is desired to lower thehandle into its lower range of movement, it is merely depressed untilshoulder 38 overrides end 36 of spring 35.

If the operator raises the handle to its vertical position the latch 2!will ride along the bottom of groove 21 until it latches over detent 29to positively look the handle in its vertical position. As will bereadily perceived, this action takes place automatically and without anyeffort on the part of the operator other than that required to raise theunbalanced weight of the handle to its vertical position.

Second embodiment A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated inFigures 4, 5 and 6. It is generally similar to that just described aboveand many component elements are identical or substantially so.Accordingly, the same or similar parts are designated by the samereference numerals distinguished by a prime. In view of the closesimilarity of the two forms, detailed description of the second form isthought unnecessary other than to describe those features which aredifferent.

The major difference in the two modifications resides in the means forshifting latch member 2| from raceway 21' to raceway 28" and back againduring the unlocking operation. In the preferred form the means reliedupon for shifting the latch resides in the special cam surfaces formedin the raceway. In the modified arrangement, this function may beaccomplished in part or entirely by the shape of latch slot 50 formed inthe forward face of handle socket it. As is better shown in Figure 5,slot 58 comprises an upper slot and a lower slot 52 offset laterallyfrom one another and intercommunicating at their adjacent overlappingportions. Cam surfaces 53 and 54 formed in opposed. faces of the slotsserve to shift the latch laterally as the handle is rotated forwardlyslightly and then backwardly into its operating range. Normally, latch2| will lie in slot 52 and its lower hooked end '23 will move throughguideway 21'.

Operation Let us assume that the handle is in its vertical position andthat end 23' of the latch is latched behind detent 29'. Cam surface 53is then located immediately above latch -2 i. If the handle is nowrotated slightly forwardly to shift book 23' forwardly, cam surface 53will bear against latch 2 l and shift the latch laterally into returnguideway 28'. As the handle is rotated backwardly, the latch will passalong guideway 28' until cam surface 54 in the handle socket shifts itlaterally back into raceway 21.

Attention should also be called to another variation in the secondmodification. This consists of a tab 56 struck inwardly from bracket Hat a point immediately below the handle socket and in the path of a tab51 struck downwardly from the bottom of the handle socket. These twotabs cooperate to form a forward limit stop for the handle when it isbeing operated to unlatch the positive locking means. It will thereforebe clear that tab 56 takes the place of tab 39 struck upwardly fromspring 35 as described in the first embodiment.

While only two embodiments of the invention have been described indetail, it will be apparent that numerous other structures than thosedescribed may be utilized' to carry out the purposes and functions ofthe invention without departing from the spirit or principle of theinvention.

It is to be understood that the protection herein applied for is notconfined to the particular combinations of features or elements set outin the following claims. Protection is herein applied for for any one ormore of the features or elements referred to in the following claims, ordescribed in the foregoing specification or shown in the accompanyingdrawings, either independently or in combination.

I claim:

1. In combination with an ambulatory body having an operating handlepivoted thereto, said handle having an operating range of movement and arelatively short non-operating range of movement, control means forlocking said handle against return to said operating range when it ismoved to a position intermediate said operat ing and said non operatingranges of movement, said control means comprising a movable latch memberand a cooperating. stationary detent member, one of said members beingcarried by said handle and the other by said body, and stationary cammeans for automatically shifting said latch laterally to one side ofsaid detent as said handle is moved a predetermined distance into saidnon-operating range and for maintain ing the latch to one side of saiddetent until after the handle has been moved back into said operatingrange whereby said handle is unlocked for use in its operating range ofmovement.

2. In combination with an ambulatory body having an operating handlepivoted thereto, said handle having an operating range of movement and anon-operating range of movement, control means for positively lockingsaid handle against return to said operating range when it is moved to aposition intermediate said ranges of movement, said means comprising amovable member and a stationary member, one of said members beingmovable with said handle and the other being mounted on said body, saidmembers being arranged to interlock to prevent return of the handle tosaid operating range, and means fixed with respect to the elementsupporting one of said members and operable to shift one of the membersof said control means out of interlocking position when said handle ismoved into said non-operating range whereby the handle is free to bemoved into said operating range.

3. In combination with an ambulatory body element having an operatinghandle element pivoted thereto, said handle having an operating range ofmovement and a non-operating range of movement, control means forpositively looking said handle against return to said operating rangewhen it is moved to a position intermediate said two ranges and forunlocking said handle when it is moved into said non-operating range,said means comprising a single movable locking member and a stationarydetent member one of which members is carried by said handle element andthe other by said body element, said control means including means fixedwith respect to one of said elements and operable when said handle ismoved into said non-operating range to shift one of said members out oflocking relation to the other of said members whereby said handle may beunlocked and returned to said operating range.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 including common means forresisting movement of the handle into said non-operating range and forholding the handle in an inclined position of rest when it is releasedby the operator while in said operating range.

5. In combination with a suction cleaner having a main body element anda propelling handle element pivoted thereto, said handle having arearwardly extending operating range, a forwardly extendingnon-operating range and a storage position intermediate said ranges,control means for said handle operable to lock the handle in saidstorage position including a pivoted latching member and a stationarydetent member, and stationary means operable to maintain said latch inalignment with said detent when the handle is moved toward said storageposition and for moving said latch laterally to one side of said detentwhen said handle is moved into said nonoperating range whereby saidhandle control can be unlocked for return to" the operating range merelyby moving the same into the non-operating range and then back into theoperating range.

6. In combination with a suction cleaner having a propelling handlepivoted thereto, a latch member pivoted to said handle above the handlepivot for movement normally through a vertical plane and extendingforwardly of said handle, a detent carried by said cleaner andengageable with said latch when said handle is elevated to a handleparking position, and stationary cam means for shifting said latchmember in other than a vertical plane to one side of said detent whensaid handle is moved forwardly from its parked position whereby saidhandle i unlocked for return to an operating position rearwardly of saidparked position.

7. In combination with a suction cleaner having a propelling handlepivoted thereto, a latch member pivoted to said handle for movementnormally in the same plane as said handle, a stationary detent on saidcleaner in alignment with said latch and engageable therewith when saidhandle is elevated to a parked position, and cam means rigid with saidhandle operable to shift said latch laterally of said normal plane ofmovement out of alignment with said detent when said handle is movedforwardly of said parked position and for returning said latch intoalignment with the detent after the handle has been unlocked.

8. The combination recited in claim 7 includ ing means for biasing saidhandle toward said parked position from opposite directions.

9. The combination recited in claim 8 in which said handle is providedwith a stop for supporting the same in an inclined position of rest andbeing cooperable with said biasing means to support said handle in saidinclined position when the operator releases the same while it is in arearwardly inclined position.

10. In combination with a suction cleaner having a handle pivotedthereto at a point above a rear supporting wheel, a movable latch membernormally constrained for movement in a vertical plane, a detent member,one of said members being carried by said cleaner and one by said handleand being engageable to lock said handle against return to a cleanerpropelling position when said handle is elevated to a parked position,and means forming a raceway for said latch operable to shift said latchhorizontally out of J.-

latching engagement with said detent when said handle is moved forwardlyof said parked position.

11. The combination of a suction cleaner having a propelling handlepivoted thereto rearwardly of it center of gravity, said handle beingpivotable through an inclined cleaner propelling range to anon-propelling parking position and through a small angle forwardly ofsaid parking position, cooperating latch and detent members for lockingsaid handle against return to said propelling range when the same israised to said parking position, one of said members being carried bythe lower end of said handle and the other by said suction cleaner,counter-balance means for said handle normally urging the same to theparking position thereof, resilient means carried by said cleaner havinga portion thereof positioned in the path of spaced stops on said handleand cooperative therewith to resist forward movement of said handle fromsaid parking position in one position of said handle and to provide aresilient stop for said handle in an inclined position thereof, andmeans for automatically disengaging said latch and detent members whensaid handle is pivoted forwardly of said parking position in oppositionto said resilient means and fOr holding said members disengaged untilsaid handle has been pivoted rearwardly beyond said parking position.

12. In combination with an ambulatory body having an operating handlepivoted thereto, said handle having an operating range of movement and arelatively short non-operating range of movement adjacent one end of butoutside said operating range of movement, control means for locking saidhandle against return to said operating range when it is moved to aposition intermediate said operating and non-operating ranges ofmovement, said control means comprising a pivotal latch member and astationary detent member, one of said members being carried by saidhandle and the other by said ambulatory body, said detent member havinga pair of guideways interconnected with one another to form a continuouscircuit for one end of said latch member, said stationary detent memberbeing associated with one of said guideways so as to engage said latchmember when said handle is moved to said position intermediate saidoperating and non-operating ranges of movement and to lock the handleagainst return to said operating range While leaving said handle freefor movement into said non-operating range, and means for causing saidlatch to move through the other of said guideways when said handle ismoved into said non-operating range whereby said handle is moved intosaid non-operating range whereby said handle is free for return to saidoperating range of movement.

13. In combination with an ambulatory body having an operating handlepivoted thereto, said handle having an operating range of movement and arelatively short non-operating range of movement adjacent one end of butoutside said operating range of movement, control means for locking saidhandle against return to said operating range when it is moved to aposition intermediate said operating and non-operating ranges ofmovement, said control means comprising a pivotable latch member and astationary detent member, one of said members being carried by saidhandle and the other by said am bulatory body, said detent member havinga guideway with a plurality of interconnected passages through whichsaid latch member is constrained to move as said handle is pivotedthrough said operating and non-operating ranges of movement andincluding means for causing said latch member to move from one to theother of said passages in one direction only, one of said passageshaving a latching detent positioned to engage said latch member whensaid handle is moved to said position intermediate said operating andnon-operating ranges and to lock the handle against return to saidoperating range until it is moved into said non-operating range 01movement.

14. A handle control mechanism for use on a suction cleaner of the typehavin a wheel supported body, means thereon for pivotally supporting acleaner propelling handle, a propelling handle mounted in saidsupporting means pivotable through a cleaner operating range of movementto a handle storage position at the upper end thereof, said handle alsobeing pivotable through a relatively short non-operating range ofmovement distinct from said operating range and located contiguous tothe upper end of said operating range, releasable control means forpositively locking said handle against return to said operating rangewhen said handle is raised to said storage position comprising aone-piece movable latch element and a detent element, one of saidelements being carried by said handle and the other being carried bysaid cleaner body, said detent element having a detent positioned to beengaged by said latch element when said handle is moved upwardly to thestorage position thereof so as to lock said handle against return to itsoperating range, means having a cammed guideway in which said latchelement is constrained to move, said guideway being shaped andpositioned to cause said element to move through a path containing saiddetent so long as said handle is within said operatin range and beingoperable to cause said latch to move through another path to one side ofsaid detent when said handle is moved into said non-operating rangewhereby said handle is unlocked and released for return to the operatingrange of movement.

15. In combination with a suction cleaner having a main body, apropelling handle having its lower end pivotally connected to said bodyand being movable through an operating range between a substantiallyhorizontal position and an upright storage position, said handle alsobeing movable through a relatively short non-operating range forwardlyof said operating range and distinct therefrom to operate a controlmeans for said handle, a control means for automatically locking saidhandle in said storage position when it is pivoted thereto from saidoperating range, and for unlocking the handle when the same is movedforwardly into said non-operating range, said control means comprising alatching ele ment and a detent element, one of said elements beingmovable with said handle and the other bein mounted on said cleanerbody, said latch element having a mounting therefor permitting saidlatch to move in more than one plane, said detent element including adetent engageable with said latch to lock the handle in said storageposition when said handle is moved to the upper end of said operatingrange, means constraining said latch to move through one plane so longas said handle is moving within said operating range, and meansresponsive to movement of said handle within said non-operating rangefor moving said latch in a different plane to bypass said detent andrelease said handle for return to said operating range.

16. In combination with a suction cleaner having a main body, apropelling handle therefor having its lower end pivotally connected tosaid body and being movable through a vertical plane, said handle havingan operating range of movement between a substantially horizonta1position and an upright storage position and a relatively shortnon-operating range of movement on the Opposite side of said storageposition from said operating range, control means for lockin said handleagainst return to said operatin range when the same is raised to theupright position from said operating range and for unlocking said handleupon movement into said non-operating range, said control meanscomprising a latching element and a detent element positioned tointerengage with one another when the handle is raised to said storageposition, one of said elemerits being movable with said handle and theother being on said cleaner body, said latching element having meanspivotally supporting one end thereof on said cleaner so that said latchcan pivot through limited arcs in two planes at an angle to one another,one of said planes including said detent element, cam means for normallyguiding latching element for movement within said one plane While saidhandle is moving in said operating range and for guiding said latchingelement for movement through the other of said planes when said handleis moved into said non-operating range and then returningthe latchingelement to said one plane as the handle is moved back into saidoperating range.

17. In combination with a suction cleaner having a main body, apropelling handle therefor having its lower end pivotally connected tosaid body and being movable through a vertical plane, said handle havingan operating range of movement between a substantially horizontalposition and an upright storage position and a relatively shortnon-operating range of movement on the opposite side of said storageposition from said operatin range, control means for locking said handleagainst return to said operating range when the same is raised to theupright position from said operating range and for unlocking said handleupon movement into said non-operating range, said control meanscomprising a latch member pivotally mounted on the lower end of saidhandle having a hooked end, means providing a guideway on said cleanerfor the hooked end of said latch as said handle is pivoted through saidranges of movements, said guideway having a detent therein positioned toengage the hooked end of said latch and lock the handle against returnto said operating range when the handle is raised therefrom into saidupright storage position, said guideway having a return passage for saidlatch around said detent which is operative to unlock said latch andshift the same laterally of said vertical plane of movement of saidhandle and then return the latch to its unlocked position behind saiddetent as said handle is pivoted into said non-operating range and thenmoved back into its operating range of movement.

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